UC Irvine's Oswald Steward is awarded 2026 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience

Irvine, Calif., June 10, 2026 - University of California, Irvine neuroscientist Oswald Steward has been awarded the 2026 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, one of the world's most prestigious honors in science, for discoveries that fundamentally changed understanding of how neurons build, strengthen and modify connections in the brain involved in learning, memory and recovery from injury.

Steward, a Distinguished Professor of anatomy and neurobiology as well as neurobiology and behavior, shares the prize with Christine Holt of England's University of Cambridge, Kelsey Martin of the Simons Foundation and Erin Schuman of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Brain Research. The four researchers identified local protein translation in neurons and established its importance for brain development and plasticity.

"Oswald Steward's pioneering discoveries have reshaped neuroscience and expanded our understanding of how the brain learns, adapts and heals," said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. "This honor recognizes a career of scientific excellence and reflects UC Irvine's longstanding leadership in advancing research that improves lives."

Steward earned a Ph.D. at UC Irvine and went on to become one of the world's leading neuroscientists. He is the founding and current director of UC Irvine's internationally renowned Reeve-Irvine Research Center, where he has led efforts to understand neural repair and regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Transformative discoveries

For decades, scientists believed that proteins needed by neurons were produced primarily in the cell body. Steward's groundbreaking electron microscopy studies revealed protein-producing machinery located near synapses, which is where cells make connections with each other, demonstrating that neurons can manufacture proteins locally where they're needed. His subsequent research defined the mechanisms of messenger RNA transport from the nucleus and selective localization at active synapses, creating a new understanding of brain plasticity, learning and memory.

The implications of this work extend well beyond basic neuroscience. Research on local protein synthesis has boosted comprehension of neurodevelopmental disabilities such as fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and brain and spinal cord injury. By revealing how neurons regulate protein production at individual synapses, Steward and his colleagues opened new pathways for developing therapies aimed at preserving cognitive function, enhancing recovery after injury and restoring neural connectivity.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience alongside Christine Holt, Kelsey Martin and Erin Schuman," Steward said. "This recognition reflects decades of collaborative work by students, postdoctoral scholars and colleagues whose contributions helped reveal fundamental mechanisms that enable the nervous system to learn, adapt and recover."

About the Kavli Prize

The Kavli Prize commends scientists whose discoveries transform understanding in three areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Presented every two years, the prize in each area includes $1 million and a medal, and it's administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in partnership with The Kavli Foundation and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. Steward and his fellow award recipients will be feted at a September ceremony in Oslo.

Steward's research has been supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health, particularly through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which has funded multiple major projects on synaptic plasticity, nerve regeneration and spinal cord injury. Other critical backing has come from the W.M. Keck Foundation and FRAXA Research Foundation. A founding gift from philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith in honor of Christopher Reeve helped establish the Reeve-Irvine Research Center.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

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